Theological Values

Our theological values are those dynamic ideas and actions we believe reveal God’s nature and divine/human activity central to His will.
At Kwanzaa Community Church we:

1. Cherish and Prioritize Relationships (Luke 10:27):

A. Our first priority in relationship is with the triune God:

1) God the Father – God created the heavens and the earth and made human beings in God’s image, charging them to care for all that lives; God made men and women to live in community, responding to their Creator with grateful obedience. Even when humanity broke community with its Maker and with one another, God did not forsake it, but out of grace pursued redemption and reconciliation through His Son Jesus Christ.
 
2) God the Son – God was incarnate in Jesus Christ, who announced good news to the poor, proclaimed release for prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, let the broken victims go free, and proclaimed the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus came to seek and to save the lost; in his life and death for others God’s redeeming love for all people was made visible; and in the resurrection of Jesus Christ there is the assurance of God’s victory over sin and death and the promise of God’s continuing presence in the world – through the victorious Kingdom of God.

3) God the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit represents the redeeming & reconciling activity of God’s power in the world. The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ the Church. The Spirit who empowers us to joyfully praise God, understand scripture, pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of people long silenced, and work with others for justice, freedom, peace and seek after the Kingdom of God.

B. Our second priority in relationship is with our neighbor. This is to be demonstrated at Kwanzaa as members unconditionally love one another and lovingly welcome the stranger.

C. Another aspect of this second priority is a healthy intra-relationship with the various dimensions of our own personhood. Through the power of the Spirit, we are to lovingly do self-care as we walk our faith journey in body, soul and mind.

D. We are also called into loving relationship with all of God’s creation guided and governed by God’s will to reconcile the world to Himself (2 Cor. 5:19).

2. Establish a Knowledge-Based Teaching/Preaching Foundation

A. The Bible assumes the highest priority under this value. Because it “…is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the people of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (II Timothy 3:16-17).

B. Kwanzaa also respects and utilizes other sources, resources, information streams and forms of knowledge for inspiration, healing and human development as well.

C. Consequently, Christian education undergirds all ministries of Kwanzaa Community Church. Vital then to this value is offering ongoing Christian education for all ages and levels of understanding in addition to Biblical-based sermons and teaching with contemporary application.

3. Initiate Change:

A. At Kwanzaa we welcome, seek and engender change where we believe it reflects God’s intention for our lives, church and for the best witness of God’s Kingdom in our midst. So we encourage spiritual, economic and social change through community-engagement ministries. We also train, educate and empower members to lead community organizing efforts. A role of the church is to be a prophetic change agent in community and society.

B. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of you mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will (Rm.12:2).” God says I am doing a new thing… (Is. 43:19). We must change to be aligned with God’s new initiative (2 Cor. 5:17)!

4. Prioritize Expressive Praise and Praying in Faith

A. Praise is a testimony to everyone and everything of God’s generosity, faithfulness, love, sovereignty and is evidence of the seriousness with which we take our worship and prayer lives. The number one purpose for our existence is to glorify God. Expressive praise and praying in faith is a witness to that aim.

B. We use inspirational-expressive music ministry, praise dancing and enthusiastic lay participation during worship as a demonstration to this value. In addition Kwanzaa holds weekly prayer meetings and Bible studies to support this priority.

5. Orchestrate Intentional Evangelism and Outreach Ministries

A. This value is rooted in the Great Commission (Mt. 28:16-20) – a command reflected in the church mission, “go get them, bring them in, growth them up and send them out. We pursue the mission through loving and caring relationships so that God through Kwanzaa might bring “…saving freedom and the healing of Jesus Christ to body, soul and mind.” This is the church’s vision.

B. We implement this value through four to five Friendship Sundays yearly, culturally – specific programming designed to nurture/develop youth and provide more than twelve community engagement initiatives focused on wellness and empowerment.

6. Assure and Monitor Assimilation

A. “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts: and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body…(1 Cor. 12:12-13).”

B. Assure and Monitor assimilation is value placed on incorporating members into oneness with the church – inviting and implementing procedures for members to find their place, role and inclusion in the life of the Kwanzaa family. Furthermore, we achieve this value by intentionally positioning members into ministry teams for service opportunities and assigning them to deacon family groups to ensure frequent connections, nurture and support. During the process of assimilation a special emphasis must be given to new members.

7. Establish Small Groups

A. The small group models an intimate family arrangement where love, intimacy, story- telling, accountability, belonging and nurture are valued, encouraged and pursued. Small groups are reflected in multiple intimate Sunday School classes, ministry groups for members, including administration, evangelism, outreach, stewardship, worship and other ministry teams and auxiliary groups.

B. God demonstrated the importance of this model when he created family as the very first institution of the Bible (Gen.2: 15-23). So, we encourage the health and function of the nuclear family by placing this provision of simulated church family groupings at the service of Kwanzaa members.